Results 8,781-8,800 of 19,621 for speaker:Norma Foley

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (14 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: In April 2018, a review of Relationships and Sexual Education (RSE) in schools was announced. This review the NCCA and covered both the content of RSE curriculum and support materials, as well as the delivery of the curriculum to students. Included in the areas for particular consideration during the review are: - Consent, what it means and its importance - Developments in contraception -...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Reform (14 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: Students have been centrally involved in the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment's review of Relationships and Sexuality Education in Irish schools that began in 2018 and continue to be involved in consultations regarding an updated curriculum. As part of the consultation process that formed a key part of the review of RSE, NCCA met with student groups including the ISSU, Comhairle...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Reform (14 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: Access to Relationships and Sexuality Education, or RSE, is an important right for students. This is reflected in the Programme for Government, which states that this Government will develop inclusive and age appropriate curricula for RSE and Social, Personal and Health Education across primary and post-primary schools. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment was requested to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Reform (14 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: Access to Relationships and Sexuality Education, or RSE, is an important right for students. This is reflected in the Programme for Government, which states that this Government will develop inclusive and age appropriate curricula for RSE and Social, Personal and Health Education across primary and post-primary schools. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment was requested to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (14 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is in the process of redeveloping the Primary School Curriculum. A key document, the Primary Curriculum Framework which sets the foundation upon which curriculum specifications will be developed, will be furnished to my office in late 2022. Following my approval, the Framework will be published. Work on the specifications related to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (14 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: Access to Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) is an important right for students. This is reflected in the Programme for Government which states that this Government will develop inclusive and age appropriate curricula for RSE and Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) across primary and post-primary schools. My Department continues to advance work in this regard. SPHE is a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (14 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: There has been considerable engagement between my Department and the Department of Justice in respect of the Third National Strategy for Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV). My Department continues to work with the Department of Justice in formulating and implementing the Third National Strategy for Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. Proposed actions for my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Interest Rates (14 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 956 and 957 together. The total cost to my Department of negative interest rates in outlined in the table below. Negative interest charges were introduced on all commercial bank accounts from March 2017. Commercial bank accounts operated by my Department are funded on a just-in-time basis and every effort is made by my Department to keep the balance of monies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (14 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021. The purpose of my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (14 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: There is one former Secretary General of my Department on secondment to Maynooth University. This secondment follows two Government decisions in 2011 and 2021 which dealt with this matter. It is also in line with the Top Level Appointments Committee review of special retirement severance terms for Secretaries General. The role involves work within the university in the area of enhancing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: I wish to confirm to the Deputy that the majority of schools have a general purpose room / Physical Education hall and practically all schools have outdoor play areas. In addition, many schools, use adjacent local facilities, including community halls, public parks, playing fields and swimming pools. Investment and expenditure on sports facilities is an element of the overall expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (14 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: I announced on the 9th March that from next September the DEIS programme will be extended to an additional 310 schools. 37 schools will also benefit from additional supports following reclassification. Schools were identified for inclusion in the programme through the refined DEIS identification model which is an objective, statistics based model. Schools were not required to apply for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (14 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: I announced on the 9th March that from next September the DEIS programme will be extended to an additional 310 schools. 37 schools will also benefit from additional supports following reclassification. Schools were identified for inclusion in the programme through the refined DEIS identification model which is an objective, statistics based model. Schools were not required to apply for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (14 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: As set out in the 20-Year Strategy for Irish and the associated Action Plan 2018-2022, the Department of Education is currently piloting a Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach as a means of extending opportunities for children in English-medium Early Learning and Care settings, primary and post-primary schools to experience partial-immersion in Irish. As the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (14 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: Under the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022, a number of teacher education initiatives have been implemented to support the delivery of Irish-medium education in schools. Since 2017, additional funding has been made available for two seconded teachers and bursaries, awarded through An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG), to support the Máistir...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (14 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications established a jointly funded pathfinder programme with the SEAI, testing and demonstrating energy efficiency and decarbonisation retrofit approaches. This pathfinder is a great example of collaboration ensuring the deployment of new design approaches and technologies are introduced to the educational environment on an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (14 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in that area. Under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: My Department does not provide mediation services for School Authorities. However, there are dispute resolution measures within the Public Works Contracts for dealing with Contractors. In many cases, the schools Insurance Policy can provide assistance and advice for the school in dealing with disputes. Schools rely on the professionalism of their appointed design team consultants to also...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (14 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: The delivery of Special Education Needs (SEN) provision is a key priority under the NDP. My Department has delivered permanent accommodation for 292 special classes and additional capacity for 122 classrooms in 22 special schools during NDP period 2018 to 2021. A further 700 school building projects currently progressing under the NDP which will deliver over 1,300 new SEN classrooms and 200...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Jun 2022)

Norma Foley: I propose to take Questions Nos. 971 and 972 together. I wish to assure the Deputy that the provision of appropriate accommodation for pupils with special education needs is an absolute priority. I wish to acknowledge the valuable work being done by school principals and wider school authorities in expanding the educational provision for pupils with special educational needs including the...